2015 - GAME 8

During various segments of the game both the Saint James offense and defense were as quiet and lethargic as the W.H. Brown Stadium crowd, but the Trojans took advantage of two Shaw Woodson interceptions and three costly Ashford lost fumbles as they clinched their fifth playoff spot in the last seven seasons with a gritty 28 - 21 victory over the homestanding Yellow Jackets.

Saint James had the first possession of the game, and after an out of bounds kickoff good field position as well.  However, two incomplete passes sandwiched a negative run, but a nice punt by Connor Collier pinned the Jackets back at their own 24.  The first three plays netted 11 yards, and on the fourth play Stevonte Tullis broke through the line into the Trojan secondary and outraced all chasers for a 65 yard touchdown scamper.  The extra point by Marcus Pope was good, and less than three minutes into the game Ashford had a quick 7 - 0 lead.

The Trojans fared no better on their second drive and again pinned Ashford inside their own 30 yard line to start a drive.  Quarterback Juwan Richardson picked up 18 yards on a keeper to earn one first down, but a holding penalty stalled the drive and forced a punt which Saint James took over at their own 31.  Blake Underwood was having limited success carrying the ball for the Trojans, as his longest counting carry of the night netted 8 yards.  However, Collier intermixed passes to Atchison Hubbard for 20 yards and Shaw Woodson for 18 yards to move the ball inside the Ashford 30.  However, as the second quarter started, the drive again stalled and McKay Taylor was called on to attempt a career long 41 yard field goal, which drifted right.

On third down and four from the Jacket 26, Tullis was given a carry but was slung backwards by Trojan carriers twice and finally dumped well back at the Ashford 4 yard line - a 22 yard loss on the play.  The short pressured punt was returned by Dozier Dean to the Ashford 30 and finally the Trojans had some spark.  An illegal formation penalty eventually led to a third down and 14, but an 11 yard catch by Stephen Sadie and a nifty 6 yard run by Underwood kept the drive alive.  Four consecutive carries by Underwood pushed the ball down to the Jacket 2, where Collier called his own number for the first Trojan touchdown.  Taylor's extra point tied the game at seven midway through the second quarter.

Despite a short return on a deep kickoff, Richardson picked up 36 yards on first down to put the ball at midfield.  Later, a 20 yard pass completion from Richardson to Tullis gave the Jackets first down at the Trojan 17 and a great chance to score before halftime.  However, after an illegal procedure penalty and an incomplete pass, Richardson was pressured and sacked.  He tried to throw the ball away downfield, but he actually threw it backwards where it was fallen upon by Richard Williamson way back at the Trojan 40 yard line, and with less than two minutes to go Saint James went from serious defense to an unexpected possible scoring chance before halftime.  They took full advantage.  Underwood's long carry of the night (8 yards) and a one yarder gave Saint James third down and one.  After a time out, Collier kept up the middle on a strong run dragging Ashford tacklers to the Jacket 40.  On the next play, he looked for and found a wide open Hubbard for a 40 yard catch and run touchdown as he was stopped just across the goal line.  The extra point gave Saint James a 14 - 7 lead with 43 seconds remaining until halftime.

Tullis picked up 26 yards on a first down run and it appeared Ashford might be driving for a tying touchdown before halftime, but Shaw Woodson intercepted a pass at the 23 yard line allowing the Trojans to run out the first half clock with a lead.

The Yellow Jackets were to receive the opening second half kickoff, and their drive too closely resembled their opening first half possession.  Richardson picked up 17 yards on third down to midfield, and on the next play, almost exactly like an earlier carry, Tullis broke through into the Saint James secondary and no one could catch him after a 50 yard touchdown.  The extra point quickly tied the game at 14 exactly two minutes into the second half.

A short kickoff was returned to the Trojan 34, and on first down Underwood broke loose for what would have been a 57 yard gain all the way to the Jacket 9 yard line.  However, a costly yet obvious holding penalty was called and negated the huge carry.  Four plays later the Trojans punted, but on third down of the ensuing drive, Shaw Woodson intercepted his second pass of the evening on a great catch he managed to keep off the ground with his fingertips and Saint James was in business again.  Once again Underwood broke loose on first down for what appeared to be another long run, but an illegal formation penalty was called on Saint James and once again huge yardage was forfeited.  Ashford held the Trojans and forced another punt, but Collier got off a great kick which got a great series of bounces and rolls before it went out of bounds at the Jacket 5 yard line.  On first down, Richardson kept the ball but was forced back and appeared to be halted back in the endzone for a safety.  However, the referees gave him forward progress to the one foot line where the back nose of the football was just outside the goal line.  Richardson pushed ahead for one yard on second down, but it appeared on third down the Jackets would be saved as a pass completion to Tullis appeared destined for big yardage.  However, the ball was knocked loose by a Trojan and recovered by Saint James at the Ashford 15 yard line.  Ivan Villageois picked up five yards on first down, and two plays later Hubbard caught a Collier pass and dragged Yellow Jackets to the two yard line for a first down.  Collier kept up the middle on the next play for a touchdown, and after the Taylor extra point, the Trojans had reclaimed their seven point lead with less than two minutes to go in the third quarter.

Several times during the season, the Trojans had tried a short pooch kick midway down the field hoping to cause some confusion among the returners and either pin them deep, prevent a long return, or perhaps regain the ball themselves.  This time, Taylor's kick near the sidelines was attempted to be fielded by a Jacket deep man.  However, he muffed the ball and somehow it managed to stay inbounds where Dozier Dean alertly fell upon it at the the Jacket 19 yard line, giving Saint James immediate repossession.  On first down, a handoff to Hubbard caught the Jackets off guard and he barrelled untouched inside the five yard line where he carried tacklers to what appeared to have been a 19 yard touchdown.  Again, though, he was ruled down at the one yard line, much to the dismay of many on the sidelines.  Nevertheless, Underwood dove through a hole on the next play for a quick touchdown, only 33 seconds after their prior one.  Taylor's extra point gave Saint James a two touchdown cushion late in the third quarter.

An out of bounds kickoff gave Ashford good field position at their own 35, but three plays later on fourth down and 8 Richardson could only manage 2 yards, and the Trojans took over on downs.  Saint James ran off 4½ minutes of clock before turning the ball over on downs themselves as the Jacket 34.  Ashford went into desperation mode, and on fourth down a long pass from Richardson to Johnathan McCray for 38 yards quickly switched the field.  Six plays later, Tullis carried over from 3 yards for a Jacket touchdown and the extra point cut the lead to seven.  However, just over three minutes were left in the game and Ashford felt the need for an onside kick.  It was almost a very successful one, but an Ashford player touched the bouncing kick a yard before the midfield stripe, and Saint James took over there at the dead ball spot.  Ashford used one time out, but after both Collier and Hubbard picked up first downs on runs, time was almost exhausted, and Saint James only had to kneel down to win their ninth game away from Carlisle Field in the last ten attempts.  They also clinched the valuable playoff spot, and a home playoff game was within reach with a victory the following week over rival Trinity.

SIDELINE STATISTICS - GAME EIGHT

SAINT JAMES    RUSHING   40 attempts   113 yards   3 TDs   (2.83  yards per carry)

                                1   Underwood           28 / 66  (1 TD)       15   Hubbard                   2 / 24
                              12   Collier                     9 / 18  (2 TDs)       8   Villageois                  1 /  5

                              PASSING    6 completions  12 attempts  0 INTs   99 yards   1 TD

                              12   Collier                  6 - 12 - 0  99 yards  1 TD

                              RECEIVING

                              15   Hubbard                 4 / 70  (1 TD)         2   Woodson                   1 / 18       23   Sadie                 1 / 11

                              TOTAL YARDS:  212

                              KICKS:      XP  4 / 4      FG   0 / 1   (41 missed)
                              2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                              KICKOFFS:  5  (51,54,53,41,OB)             PUNTS:  4  (44,29,41,47)
                              KO RETURNS:  2  (8.7)                            PUNT RETURNS:   1  (2)
                              FIRST DOWNS:   11   (7 rushing, 4 passing)
                              THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS:   7 / 14
                              FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS:  2 / 3
                              FUMBLES:  0
                              TURNOVER MARGIN:  + 5
                              INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  2  (0,0)
                              POINTS OFF TURNOVERS:  21
                              ACCEPTED PENALTIES:   3 / 23 yards
                              TIME OF POSSESSION:  26:18

ASHFORD           RUSHING    37 attempts  229 yards  3 TDs  (6.19 yards per carry - 28  Stokes 12 / 139)
                              PASSING       7 completions  13 attempts  2 INTs   90 yards  0 TDs
                              TOTAL YARDS:   319

                              KICKS:      XP  3 / 3      FG   0 / 0
                              2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                              KICKOFFS:  4  (OB,33,31,9)                   PUNTS:  2  (26,28)
                              KO RETURNS:  4  (5,13,24,0F)               PUNT RETURNS:  0
                              FIRST DOWNS:  12  (10 rushing, 2 passing)
                              THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS:   5 / 11
                              FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS:  2 / 3
                              FUMBLES:  3, lost 3
                              POINTS OFF TURNOVERS:  0
                              ACCEPTED PENALTIES:  2 / 15 yards
                              TIME OF POSSESSION:  21:42